# keymap(5)

## NAME

         keymap - keyboard maps

## SYNOPSIS

         /etc/keymap

## DESCRIPTION

         /etc/keymap is the compressed mapping from keyboard scan codes to  ASCII.
         It  is  made  from  a  keymap  source file consisting of MAP_COLS columns
         (MINIX assigns the value 6 to MAX_COLS,  corresponding  to  key  pressed,
         key+SHIFT,  key+LEFT_ALT,  key+RIGHT_ALT, key+ALT+SHIFT and key+CTRL) and
         NR_SCAN_CODES rows  (MINIX  assigns  the  value  0x80  to  NR_SCAN_CODES,
         corresponding  to  the  number  of  scan  codes  to  be  provided  by the
         keyboard), and each element is 2 bytes  in  length  (see  u16_t  in  type
         definitions). The low order byte corresponds to the character represented
         by the scan code, and the high order  byte  corresponds  to  the  special
         meaning (when CAPS LOCK has effect, if it is a function key, etc.), which
         is converted to binary keymap format using the genmap utility.

      Types (general): <sys/types.h>
         <sys/types.h> defines the u8_t and u16_t types, corresponding to 8 and 16
         bit values.

      Macros: <minix/keymap.h>

         C(c) - Control
              Maps to control code

         A(c) - Alt
              Sets the eight bit

         CA(c) - Control-Alt
              Short for A(C(c))

         L(c) - Caps Lock
              Adds Caps Lock effect

         These macros are used in a keymap source file to help  define  keys.   So
         instead  of writing 032 to put a CTRL-Z in the map you write C('Z').  The
         L(c) macro is used in column 0 to tell that the Caps Lock key  is  active
         for this key.  (Caps Lock should only have effect on letters.)

      Definitions: <minix/keymap.h>
         <minix/keymap.h> contains a large number of definitions for special keys,
         like function keys, and keys on the numeric keypad.  They are:

         Escape key and modifiers:  EXT, CTRL, SHIFT, ALT.

         Numeric keypad keys:  HOME, END, UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, PGUP,  PGDN,  MID
         (numeric '5'), PLUS, INSRT.

         ALT + numpad key:  AHOME, AEND, ..., AINSRT.

         CTRL + numpad:  CHOME, CEND, ..., CINSRT.

         Lock keys:  CALOCK (Caps Lock), NLOCK (Num Lock), SLOCK (Scroll Lock).

         Function keys:  F1, ..., F12.

         ALT - function key:  AF1, ..., AF12.

         CTRL - function key:  CF1, ..., CF12.

         SHIFT - function key:  SF1, ..., SF12.

         ALT - SHIFT - function key:  ASF1, ..., ASF12.

         There is one key definition that isn't  a  key  at  all:   EXTKEY.   This
         keycode  is sent by the keyboard as an indicator that the next keycode is
         special.  For instance both ALT keys have the same keycode, but the right
         ALT key is sent by the keyboard preceded by the EXTKEY keycode.  The same
         is true for the '/' key on the numeric pad versus the other  '/'  key  on
         the  US  keyboard.   (On  other  keyboards  this key may have a different
         symbol.)  The keyboard driver knows that a different key is presses if it
         is preceded by EXTKEY.

      Creating/changing keyboard mapping
         You can create your own keyboard mapping by copying one of  the  existing
         keymap  source  files  (Standard Minix:  kernel/keymaps/*.src, Minix-vmd:
         kernel/ibm/keymaps/*.src) and modifying the desired keys. Once  this  has
         been  done,  you  need to recompile the genmap.c file, either by adding a
         new entry to the Makefile, or by running the following commands:

              cc -DKEYSRC=\"keymap.src\" genmap.c

         After this, the keymap file can be generated by running:

              a.out > keymap.map

         The keymap can be loaded in the keyboard driver by:

              loadkeys keymap.map

         It is wise to first run loadkeys on one of the maps  in  /usr/lib/keymaps
         so  that  you can easily revert back to a known keymap with a few taps on
         the up-arrow key and pressing return.  You will otherwise have to fix the
         keymap  with a faulty keymap loaded into the keyboard driver, which is no
         fun.
         When the keymap is to your satisfaction you can copy it to /etc/keymap to
         have it loaded automatically at reboot.

## FILES

         /etc/keymap    Default keymap file

## SEE ALSO

         loadkeys (1).

## AUTHOR

         Victor A. Rodriguez - El bit Fantasma (Bit-Man@Tasa.Com.AR)